Synthesis, crystal structure and physical properties of octasilver trigermanate, Ag8Ge3O10

Ag8Ge3O10 was obtained from a mixture of the binary oxides by solid state reaction in the presence of a small amount of water which is acting as an accelerator. Conditions applied were T = 500 degrees C and p(O-2) = 1,2 kbar. According to an X-ray crystal structure analysis the title compound contains four crystallographically independent trigermanate [Ge3O10](8-) ions per unit cell (Pc, a = 12.1549(11), b = 10.7375(14), c = 18.5169(20) Angstrom, beta = 92.326(10)degrees, 13448 independent reflections, R1 = 6,1%, wR2 = 13,0%, Z = 8). Thermal decomposition, as recorded by DTA and temperature dependent Guinier photographs, occurs at 520 degrees C. Ag8Ge3O10 is diamagnetic with a molar susceptibility of -330 . 10(-6) cm(3) mol(-1).